Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff pays visit to east Baghdad base camp

Photo By Lt. Col. Sean Ryan | Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, Vice Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff, speaks with Sgt. 1st Class Robert M. Racioppo, Company C, 2nd Base Support Battalion, during a luncheon with Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad June 20. Giambastiani met with Soldiers and leaders and received an operational update.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

06.22.2007

Story by Spc. Courtney Marulli 

2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

By Spc. Courtney Marulli
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – The nation's second-highest ranking military officer was welcomed with open arms by the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division here June 20.

Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, the seventh Vice Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff, traveled to meet with Soldiers and to receive an update on issues in the "Strike Force Brigade's" sector from the commander, Col. Jeffrey L. Bannister. Giambastiani also had lunch with Soldiers.

The admiral told the 2nd BCT command team to ensure they ask for anything they need to ensure success. Bannister told Giambastiani the brigade is trying to shape the Iraqi army boundaries, neighborhoods and Iraqi army stations to set the Iraqis up for success.

Giambastiani was interested to hear what the Soldiers had to say.

"First of all, I want to thank you for all that you're doing," he told the troops. "Frankly, the reason I come out here is to meet those of you who do this every day. It's a real honor for being here. We want to find out what you need to keep you safe."

Having a senior member of the Department of Defense take an interest in them impressed many of the Soldiers at this eastern Baghdad base camp. It was even better to find a hometown connection for one non-commissioned officer.

"(He) was very down-to-earth, personable and gave some good insight to the defense measures they're developing back in the states," said Sgt. 1st Class Robert M. Racioppo of Company C, 2nd Brigade Support Battalion, and a native of Staten Island, N.Y.

"We also talked about the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York. He's from the Finger Lakes area, from Conestaga, N.Y. It was a good morale booster. It lets the Soldiers know that Forward Operating Base Loyalty is on the radar screen of the commanders back in D.C."

"I thought it was cool that he told us about (explosively-formed penetrators) and what they're doing to help us," said Sgt Dennis A. Cote, a native of Bronx, N.Y. "It gave Soldiers some confidence."

Cote, who works in the Strike Force Brigade headquarters added, "It's always good to have someone back in the states risking their lives to come out here."

• Date Taken: 06.22.2007
• Date Posted: 06.22.2007 09:25
• Story ID: 10930
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ